‘Something magic happened’: Ruben Amorim reflects on late Manchester United heroics in derby victory

Manchester United's Ruben Amorim shouts instructions to the players from the touchline during their Premier League match against rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Sunday. Photo: Paul Ellis/AFP

Manchester United's Ruben Amorim shouts instructions to the players from the touchline during their Premier League match against rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Sunday. Photo: Paul Ellis/AFP

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New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim evoked the spirit of Fergie Time after Sunday's late win over rivals Manchester City.

City led 1-0 for much of the match, and seemed to be headed towards another Manchester derby win until Bruno Fernandes converted an 88-minute penalty to level matters at the Etihad Stadium.

A little over two minutes later, Ivorian attacker Amad Diallo slipped the ball past Ederson in the City goal to give the men in red a famous 2-1 win at the home of their noisy neighbours.

Speaking after the game, the club's Portuguese boss said: "It was incredible. I think we deserved it.

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"It was a very tough match but we believed until the end. We managed to score, we needed that win, it was important for us and for our fans," he said when speaking to BBC's Match of the Day.

"We were in the game for 90 minutes and that is very good. We talk about the Arsenal game, we played well in the first half but they were not believing that we could win. Today was so much more different.

"I also believe. Then we have Fergie time and we put the things together and something magic happened. It was a good day for us.

"They [the fans] need it. Just like us, but you can see the way they celebrate is special. But we need to continue. Our club needs to win these kinds of matches, I understand the happiness of our fans but we need to continue.

"With a victory for City, the performance was the same. We need to improve a lot of things but today the guys deserved the win. They were in it until the last minute and that is important for us."

Sunday's win was Amorim's fourth since taking over as the club's boss following the sacking of Erik ten Hag earlier this season.

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